Physical Shell
System
Pilot Sk8t - Event
Soniq Shell v2
Photo Credit: University of Sydney; Master of Interaction Design Department
Physical ShellThe 3d printed casing is roughly 8.5” x 6.5” and is designed to be worn on the back of the users. It weighs roughly 2 lbs and houses all of the audio and visual components. The housed components include: Bluetooth speaker, IMU sensor (iPhone), microphone sensor, batteries, Neo-pixel ring, arduino board, etc. The oval design was chosen for both the organic and sleek look, but also the form was less obtrusive/uncomfortable to the skater; after user testing.
SystemThe built-in IMU sensor inside the iPhone, allows us to track the phone’s specific force, angular rate, and orientation. And because the phone is housed inside the shell, which is placed on the back of the skater, we are able to keep track of the skater’s orientation at any moment he/she is skating.That orientation data is then mapped to any given audio track/sounds we like, which is then played out from the Bluetooth speaker. (example: if the skater leans forward, a specific sound is produced, if they lean backwards, another sound is produced, if they rotate to the left, another sound is produced….etc.). The Skater’s movements also influence the color of the LEDs. Essentially, this allows the skater to create an array of sounds and audio tracks, as well as various lights, in real time, as they are skating.The LED ring brightens and dims based off the amplitude of the sound produced from the speakers.
Skater's movements are linked to audio outputs through the use of the IMU sensor and computer programming
Pilot Sk8t - Event
Soniq Shell v2 A redesign of Soniq Shell was commisioned for an upcoming event in August 2019. This event is planned to have multiple skaters wearing the device performing a choreographed set throughout a skate park.The redesign is larger so that it can house a more efficient internal system, as well as incorporates a new adjustable harness system. Other notable changes are that the visual elements are no longer controlled by sound, but are also linked to the users movements/orientation (imu sensor). The iPhone was also eliminated in this design, and was replaced by an actual imu sensor.The design is still undergoing iterations and user testing and will be projected to be completed withing the upcoming weeks.
Example of visual elements connected to skater’s movements:
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